Multi peg adapter device

ABSTRACT

A multi peg adapter device for providing increased display space beyond standard shelving devices. An elongated crossbar adapted to releasably support a plurality of commercially available peg holders and of adjustable length is provided to allow the product user to regulate the length of the multi peg adapter device to its preferred use. The device further has stabilizer engaging plates at both ends releasably engaging support arms to allow the multi peg adapter device to be secured to standard wall securing structures. Moreover the multi peg adapter device has vertical stoppers longitudinally spaced at equal intervals on the crossbar to prevent the peg holders from sliding along the same.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is related to U.S. provisional application for patent 60/194,368 filed on Apr. 4, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a peg adapter device and more specifically to a peg adapter device adapted to fixedly support to plurality of peg holders and to prop up and advantageously display merchandise in a store.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the modern retail market, competition is fierce among merchants. With ever increasing quantities of merchandise to display, these merchants frequently face article storage and display space limitations. To survive, they must overcome limited shelving space and incorporate an unlimited variety of new products into their display units. They must also face intense competition for the consumers' interest as well emerging technologies such as the internet retail market. There is a constant demand in the industry for new improved methods of displaying a greater number of products especially if the new product is easy to assemble, cost effective and provides a greater ease for the loading of the stock on the shelving unit.

[0004] Various types of shelving units already exist and are commonly used in today's retail stores. Although the shelving units are quite versatile on a horizontal plane there are limitations in the existing assemblies in that the displays are limited in depth of the vertical plane. To illustrate, if a narrow assembly is used to hold the retail product attached to the display wall; there is a significant amount of retail space lost in front of this assembly. This lost space could be advantageously used to prop up more salable products without visually or physically disturbing access to the more inwardly (or in-depth) displayed goods. Similarly, most prop up devices currently in use do not give access storing space behind the display assembly.

[0005] Peg adapter devices currently in use by retailers to display retail goods are not generally mounted in a fixed position and are frequently horizontally laterally slideable. (Most systems use some form of rail structure which does not restrict the lateral displacement of the peg devices). This method of display is limited in that the retailers have to frequently adjust the pegs and goods on display. This is neither time nor cost effective. There is a real demand for a peg retaining device that could effectively retain the pegs without any horizontal displacement but would still allow the easy loading and removal of sellable goods.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is a general object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that obviates the above noted disadvantages.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that can be selectively positioned forwardly to another display assembly or to an empty space to make selective room for product display.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that provides fixed attachment points for the different pegs/peg holders.

[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that has an adjustable length.

[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi peg adapter device that is versatile, easy to use and manufacture.

[0011] An advantage of the present invention is that it helps retail merchants to easily change, reorganize, modify and improve the way their merchandise is displayed.

[0012] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention provides a multi peg adapter device for mounting on a wall securing structure that comprises an elongated crossbar member for releasably supporting a plurality of display pegs and supported at both ends by a respective support arm member adapted for releasably engage said wall securing structure, said crossbar member including a plurality of longitudinally spaced stopper members for preventing said plurality of display pegs from sliding along the same.

[0014] Preferably, the crossbar member further includes at least two equally spaced elongated rods adapted for releasably supporting said plurality of display pegs at different positions along the same.

[0015] Preferably, the crossbar member further includes an extension member slidably mounted on one of said ends for enabling said device to slightly vary in length and be adaptable to a length of said wall securing structure.

[0016] Preferably, the one of said ends of said crossbar member includes a securing member to releasably secure said extension member to said crossbar member when in proper position.

[0017] Preferably, each of said ends of said crossbar member is a stabilizer engaging plate member having a hook to releasably engage a notch of respective support arm member.

[0018] Preferably, the each of said stabilizer engaging plate member is substantially vertically oriented with said crossbar member and said hook being secured to an upper and a lower extremity respectively.

[0019] Preferably, the support arm members include a plurality of notches to be releasably engaged by said hooks and spaced apart along the same, thereby enabling a plurality of positions, in parallel horizontal relationship to each other, of said crossbar member relative to said wall securing structure.

[0020] Preferably, the stopper members are reversed U-shaped stoppers sized for being engaged by only one of said plurality of display pegs.

[0021] Preferably, the extension member is a telescopic extension of said crossbar member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.

[0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi peg adapter device according to the present invention, showing peg holders mounted thereon;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a side view of a support arm of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of an extension member of the embodiment of FIG. 1 secured to an upper extremity of a stabilizer engaging plate;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0027]FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial front view of the crossbar of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0028]FIG. 5a is a view similar of FIG. 5 showing a second embodiment of the crossbar;

[0029]FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

[0030]FIG. 6a is a section view taken along line 6 a-6 a of FIG. 5a;

[0031]FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are side, front and top plan views of a peg holder to be mounted on the crossbar of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0032]FIGS. 7a, 8 a and 9 a are views similar to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 respectively, showing a second type of peg holder to be mounted on the crossbar of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

[0033]FIGS. 10 and 10a are perspective views of pegs adapted to engage the peg holders of FIGS. 7 and 7a respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] With reference to the annexed drawing the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purposes and by no means as of limitation.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment 20 of a multi peg adapter device according to the present invention mounted on a wall securing structure such as a pair of holding posts P mounted on a wall (not shown). The device 20 includes an elongated crossbar member 22 with two (2) ends, preferably stabilizer engaging plate members 24, supported by support arm members 26. The crossbar 22 is adapted for releasably supporting a plurality of display pegs comprised of peg holders 28, 28 a coupled with respective pegs 30, 30 a. Various goods G, generally packaged, are hung on the pegs 30, 30 a. A standard horizontal display Y is also mounted on the same holding posts P. It is shown that the standard display Y is located behind the adapter device 20, relatively to a vertical plane generally perpendicular to the direction the support arms 26. This characteristic of the device 20 to be able to display goods G in such a forward position offers one of the main advantages of this invention. As shown, space is valuably used permitting to display a second row of wares while the merchandise held on the display Y remain as visually and physically accessible to the retail shopper.

[0036]FIG. 2 shows one of the support arms 26. Each support arm 26 is a generally flat, elongated rectangular plate and is generally horizontally oriented. One of the shorter sides of the support arm 26 is a post holding end 32 adapted to be removably and rigidly fixed onto a standard holding post P (shown on FIG. 1) as is well known in the art. A plurality of cutout notches 34 are located along the top long side of the support arms 22 to be releasably engaged by the stabilizer engaging plates 24.

[0037] In order to be adjustable in length for fitting the variable distance between two holding posts P and different displays Y, the crossbar 22 has an extension member, preferably telescopic, with an inner sliding member 36 protruding out of one open end of the crossbar 22. Preferably, both crossbar 22 and sliding member 36 are of square cross-section, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The closed end of crossbar 22 and the exposed outer extremity of sliding member 36 are provided with a stabilizer engaging plate 24 that is preferably vertically oriented as to clear any display Y that could run underneath the crossbar 22. Each stabilizer engaging plate 24 is preferably flat and rectangular and has the inside of its upper end 38 secured, preferably by welding, on the its respective end, of sliding member 36 or crossbar 22. The outside of the lower end 40 of the stabilizer engaging plate 24 is secured, preferably by welding, to a flange 42. The top portion of the flange 42 has an outwardly protruding overhanging end 44 such as a downwardly oriented hook. This hook 44 releasably engages one of the cutout notches 34 of the support arm 26 (shown on FIGS. 1 and 2). Preferably, each cutout notch 34 is provided with a bottom edge backwardly oriented extension 35 adapted to slidably receive a portion the hook 44 of the flange 42 for securing and stabilizing the latter therein.

[0038] A small threaded aperture 46 is radially located at the periphery of the crossbar 22 in proximity to the open end the inner sliding extension 36 is inserted in. The threaded aperture 46 receives a securing member, preferably a clamping screw 48, used to abut against the inner sliding member 36 and rigidly secure the latter in place, thus preventing it from moving relative to the crossbar 22 once in the desired position.

[0039]FIGS. 5 and 6 show a partial middle section of the crossbar 22. A plurality of U-shaped stopper members 50 are secured, preferably by welding, into an up-side-down, or reversed, position with their two legs of the U-shape being essentially vertical and below the top web, onto the crossbar 22. Each stopper 50 is preferably formed out of circular rods, of a diameter D. Adjacent U-shaped stoppers 50 are longitudinally, preferably equally, spaced along the elongated crossbar 22 by a minimal distance S′ while the distance between the two legs of each U-shaped stopper 50 is approximately of the distance S. At least two (2), preferably three (3), horizontal rods 52 are secured, preferably by welding, to the U-shaped stoppers 50. Each horizontal rod 52 is thereby elongated and parallel to the crossbar 22. The vertical distance between adjacent horizontal rods 52 is R. The space between the horizontal rods 52 and the crossbar 22 is the diameter D of all reversed U-shaped stoppers 50. Preferably, the diameter of horizontal rods 52 is also approximately D.

[0040]FIGS. 5a and 6 a show a partial middle section of a second embodiment the crossbar 22 a. A plurality of vertical stoppers 50 a are secured, preferably by welding, in vertical alignment on one side of the crossbar 22 a. The vertical stoppers 50 a are elongated and preferably short circular rods, of a diameter D. All horizontal stoppers 50 a are longitudinally, preferably equally, spaced along the elongated crossbar 22 a by a distance S separating adjacent stoppers 50 a. At least two (2) horizontal rods 52 a are secured, preferably by welding, on a plurality of horizontal stoppers 50 a. Each horizontal rod 52 a is thereby elongated and parallel to the crossbar 22 a. The vertical distance between adjacent horizontal rods 52 a is R. The space between the horizontal rods 52 a and the crossbar 22 a is the diameter D of vertical stoppers 50 a. Preferably, the diameter of horizontal rods 52 a is also approximately D.

[0041]FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show the standard peg holder, as known in the industry. The peg holder 28 is preferably formed out of a generally flat material of uniform thickness T. The peg holder 28 includes a generally vertical flat main section 60 with two adjacent backwardly protruding L-shaped ears 54 secured to its top portion. The two L-shaped ears 54 are parallel and separated by a distance w and provide an overall width W to the peg holder 28. The vertical upper part 56 of each L-shaped ear 54 is of a height H and upwardly extends from its corresponding horizontal lower part 58, itself of a depth E and backwardly extending from the main section 60. A holding section 62, formed of two lateral arms 63, forwardly extends from the main section 60. The L-shaped ears 54 are adapted to be inserted in-between two adjacent horizontal rods 52, 52 a. The distance R between the two adjacent rods 52, 52 a is sufficient to allow for a smooth passage of the ears 54 therethrough (FIGS. 5, 5a, 6 and 6 a). The upper parts 56 of the L-shaped ears 54 are adapted to be positioned between the upper horizontal rod 52, 52 a and the crossbar 22, 22 a. Also to allow for the smooth passage, the thickness T of the upper parts 56 of the L-shaped ears 54 shall be relatively smaller than the diameter D of the stoppers 50, 50 a. The depth E is generally equal to or slightly larger than the diameter D of the horizontal rods 52, 52 a. The height H shall be enough to permit the upper parts 56 to abut on the upper back of the horizontal rod 52, 52 a while the lower parts 58 rest on the lower horizontal rod 52, 52 a. Most of the main section 60 abuts on the front of at least the first lower horizontal rod 52, 52 a. Thus, when the peg holder 28 is inserted in-between the two horizontal rods 52, 52 a it is rigidly but releasably secured in the vertical plane. For the embodiment of the FIGS. 5 and 6, the distance S is preferably slightly larger than the distance W between the two legs of the stoppers 50. Similarly, the distance S′ in-between two adjacent stoppers 50 is preferably slightly smaller than the distance w, hence permitting a positioning of the peg holder 28 not only in-between the two legs of a same U-shaped stopper 50 but also overlapping two adjacent legs of two adjacent U-shaped stoppers 50. Furthermore in the second embodiment of FIGS. 5a and 6 a, when the peg holder 28 is inserted in-between the two horizontal rods 52, 52 a, the peg holder 28 is also positioned to have its two L-shaped ears 54 between two horizontal stoppers 50 a. Again, the distance S is preferably slightly larger than the distance W, and S′ slightly smaller than w. Thus, when the peg holder 28 is inserted in-between the two horizontal rods 52, 52 a and between the vertical stoppers 50 a, or in-between or overlapping the legs of the U-shaped stoppers 50, it is rigidly but releasably secured within the vertical plane; the peg holder 28 is then vertically secured between rods 52, 52 a and horizontally secured along the direction of the crossbar 22, 22 a by the stoppers 50, 50 a. It is also perpendicularly secured to the vertical plane by the rods 52, 52 a.

[0042]FIGS. 7a, 8 a and 9 a show another type of standard peg holder 28 a. The peg holder 28 a has similar elements 54 a, 56 a, 58 a, 60 a and 62 a and characteristics T′, w′, W′, H′, E′ to the peg holder 28 presented in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 with the only noticeable difference of a slightly modified holding section 62 a for the reason explained here after.

[0043]FIG. 10 shows a standard elongated peg 30 adapted to engage peg holder 28. The peg 30 includes a horizontal support section 72 having a back peg engaging extremity 64 and a free front extremity 68. The peg engaging extremity 64 preferably includes a generally vertical portion adapted to abut the main section 60 of the peg holder 28, and a generally upper horizontal portion adapted to be removably and securely received by the arms 63 of the holding section 62 of the peg holder 28. Goods G with a little hanger or packaged goods G with a small hole in the package (see FIG. 1) can therefore be inserted onto the peg 30 via the free extremity 68 and slide along the support section 72 of the peg 30 to be hung or propped up for display for potential customers (shown on FIG. 1). Optionally, the peg 30 includes a tag rod 70 horizontally extending from the peg engaging extremity 64 and supporting a tag holder 66 at its front extremity essentially located just above said free extremity 68.

[0044]FIG. 1Oa shows a second type of a standard peg 30 a. The peg 30 a has similar elements 64 a, 68 a and 72 a and characteristics to the peg 30 of FIG. 10, except for a noticeable difference at the peg engaging extremity 64 a. The latter is essentially formed of a downwardly extending extremity of the support section 72 a and adapted to be received within a vertically oriented bore hole of the holding section 62 a of the peg holder 28 a of FIGS. 7a, 8 a, and 9 a.

[0045] The materials used for each presented components of the multi peg adapter device 20 should be rigid enough to sustain the various holding forces required. Various alloys or strong, resilient thermoplastics can be considered.

[0046] Although the present multi peg adapter device has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A multi peg adapter device for mounting on a wall securing structure comprising an elongated crossbar member for releasably supporting a plurality of display pegs and supported at both ends by a respective support arm member adapted for releasably engage said wall securing structure, said crossbar member including a plurality of longitudinally spaced stopper members for preventing said plurality of display pegs from sliding along the same.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said crossbar member further including at least two equally spaced elongated rods adapted for releasably supporting said plurality of display pegs at different positions along the same.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said crossbar member further including an extension member slidably mounted on one of said ends for enabling said device to slightly vary in length and be adaptable to a length of said wall securing structure.
 4. A device in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said one of said ends of said crossbar member including a securing member to releasably secure said extension member to said crossbar member when in proper position.
 5. A device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein each of said ends of said crossbar member being a stabilizer engaging plate member having a hook to releasably engage a notch of respective support arm member.
 6. A device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein each of said stabilizer engaging plate member being substantially vertically oriented with said crossbar member and said hook being secured to an upper and a lower extremity respectively.
 7. A device in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said support arm members including a plurality of notches to be releasably engaged by said hooks and spaced apart along the same, thereby enabling a plurality of positions, in parallel horizontal relationship to each other, of said crossbar member relative to said wall securing structure.
 8. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said stopper members being reversed U-shaped stoppers.
 9. A device in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said reversed U-shaped stoppers being sized for being engaged by only one of said plurality of display pegs.
 10. A device in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said extension member being a telescopic extension of said crossbar member.
 11. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said one of said ends of said crossbar member including a securing member to releasably secure said extension member to said crossbar member when in proper position.
 12. A device in accordance with claim 11 , wherein each of said ends of said crossbar member being a stabilizer engaging plate member having a hook to releasably engage a notch of respective support arm member.
 13. A device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein each of said stabilizer engaging plate member being substantially vertically oriented with said crossbar member and said hook being secured to an upper and a lower extremity respectively.
 14. A device in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said support arm members including a plurality of notches to be releasably engaged by said hooks and spaced apart along the same, thereby enabling a plurality of positions, in parallel horizontal relationship to each other, of said crossbar member relative to said wall securing structure. 